July 18, 1728

1728 July 18 (Thursday).  Mr. Sewall preach’d Excellently from Ps. 119.115.  Occasion, Phillips and Woodbridge Duel.[1]  At Mr. Wilsteeds in the Eve.  Here was Mr. Joseph Green[2] of Barnstable.  The Governours[3] coming in Everyones motions.  His Excellency’s Family came to Dr. Cooks this Eve.

[1]Henry Phillips (Harvard 1724) killed Benjamin Woodbridge in a duel on Boston Common, July 3, 1728 and escaped to France.  The affair caused much excitement and produced several sermons in Boston and elsewhere.  Sibley, VII, 424-429.  See Samuel G. Drake, The History and Antiquities of Boston (Boston, 1854), pp. 579-580

[2]Reverend Joseph Green, minister of Barnstable, 1725-1770.

[3]Governor William Burnett.